Dispenser with flap valve

ABSTRACT

A dispenser including a valve unit which is housed within the neck of a flexible type container from which fluid and semi-fluid matter such as tooth paste, shaving cream, catsup, mustard and the like are dispensed. The valve assembly allows flow through when squeezing pressure is applied to the container and the material contained therein, and automatically closes to prevent further flow, when the pressure is removed. The valve assembly includes a valve having a plurality of overlapping flaps which are hinged to open back from one another and to form a central passageway between them when pressure is exerted from within the container. Each flap may have one or more elastic stiffener members to increase the flaps ability to return to its original location when pressure from within the container is removed. As the flaps close they compress and shear through any material trapped in the central passage, with the lower flaps wiping trapped matterial from the undersides of the upper flaps so that no material is trapped between them.

United States Patent [191 Despain et al.

[ 51 Apr. 10, 1973 DISPENSER WITH FLAP VALVE [7 3] Assignee: saidDespain, by said Flandro 22 Filed: Apr. 14,1971 21 Appl.No.:13 3,910

[52] US. Cl. ..222/213, 222/490, 222/494,

222/517 [51] Int. Cl. ..B65d 37/00 [58] Field of Search ..222/490, 212,213,

l/194O Roos ..222/545 X Primary Examiner-Robert B. Reeves AssistantExaminer-James M. Slattery Attomey-B. Deon Criddle [57]' ABSTRACT Adispenser including a valve unit which is housed within the neck of aflexible type container from which fluid and semi-fluid matter such astooth paste, shaving cream,'catsup, mustard and the like are dispensed.The valve assembly allows flow through when squeezing pressure isapplied to the container and the material contained therein, andautomatically closes to prevent further flow, when the pressure isremoved. The valve assembly includes a valve having a plurality ofoverlapping flaps which are hinged to open back from one another and toform a central passageway between them when pressure is exerted fromwithin the container; Each flap may have one or more elastic stiffenermembers to increase the flaps ability to return to its original locationwhen pressure from within the container is removed. As the flaps closethey compress and shear through any material trapped in the centralpassage, with the lower flaps wiping trapped matterial from theundersides of the upper flaps so that no material is trapped betweenthem.

8 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPRWW 3.726.436

INVENTORS RICHARD R. DESPAIN GARY A. FLANDRO BY-25mm ATTORNEY DISPENSERWITH FLAP VALVE BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of theInvention This invention relates to dispensers and particularly to thoseof the collapsible container type.

2. Prior Art There has long been a need for a normally closed controlvalve assembly for use with capped deformable containers which can behoused within the container neck, and that will open to form a centralpassage when pressure is'applied to the container and its contents. Inthe past, efforts have been made to provide a dispensing type deformablecontainer having a control valve assembly. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos.2,314,052 and 3,179,301 disclose valves that are opened by squeezing ofthe valve assembly used. U.S. Pat. No. 1,977,227 shows a valve assemblyof this type having adjacent valve segments and U.S. Pat. No. 2,937,795shows a tube tip closing member in which a plurality of intersectingslits are provided to divide-the tip into a plurality of individualflexible quadrants.

Some of the valve assemblies heretofore known have been formed integralwithin the container or have been independently constructed and thensecured exteriorly of the tube with which they are used. The prior artpatents known to applicant disclose dispensing means which may besatisfactory to control discharge of liquids and semi-liquids from acontainer, but they have proven unsatisfactory to adequately close offflow from the container when desired, and have often been expensive,bulkyand unsightly. There has not heretofore been available, to myknowledge, a self closing valve assembly that provides a compact closurewhich prevents expulsion of further material from the con- SUMMARY OFTHE INVENTION The principal objects of the present invention are toprovide a dispenser which is positioned within the neck of a deformablecontainer, to dispense fluid and semifluid material when pressure isexerted on the materials within the container through pressureapplication to the exterior of the container. The dispenser has a valveassembly that is normally closed,;thereby restricting passage ofmaterial therethrough. When the pressure extruding materials from thecontainer is discontinued the dispenser valve closes therebyautomatically preventing entrance of air or contaminating materials intothe container and further discharge of the contents of the container.

Another object is to provide a valve unit which can be easily fittedwithin the neck of a deformable con-- tainer thereby allowing acontainer cap to be screwed onto exterior threads formed on thecontainer neck.

Still another object is to provide a dispensing valve having anarrangement of overlapping flaps to control flow. The flaps arepreferably constructed of relatively rigid but resilient materialsand-may have stiffening means to make the flaps even more rigid whilestill allowing them to open with respect to one another. When pressureis applied to the inner surfaces of the flaps from within the containera central passage is opened between the flaps but the flaps return totheir original passage closing position when the pressure is removed.

Yet another object is to construct the overlapping flaps such that thebottom flaps, as they close, tend to wipe the undersurfaces of the flapsabove, thereby keeping material being discharged from clogging the valveand holding it open.

Another object is to provide flaps arranged such that their leadingedges interact to compress and shear through, from all sides, anymaterial remaining in the central passage after squeezing pressure hasbeen removed from the container.

Still other objects are to provide a valve unit that is simple andeconomical to construct, that is easily fitted into or constructed'within the neck of a deformable container, and will extrude a column ofmaterial having tions, scrape and clean the undersurfaces of upperflaps. The wiping keeps materials from accumulating between the upperand lower flaps where it will clog the valve opening.

Another feature is that the upper flaps of the overlapping flaps havetheir lines of separations of the individual upper flaps rotated 90 withrespect to the lines of separation of the lower flaps at the common lineof intersection of the lines of separation. This arrangement produces afour sided central opening when pressure is exerted on the container andthe materials therein, the configuration of which opening causes columnof materials to be extruded having a corresponding cross section. Theappearance of the extruded material can be altered by changing the shapeof the top or leading edges of the individual flaps but with the foursemi-circular flaps disclosed a four pointed star'like configuration isobtained. I

An additional feature is the locking ring that forms a portion ofthe'bottom of the valve unit, with slots in the ring to'allow the bottomof the valve unit to be compressed it is inserted into the neck of adeformable container and to allow the slotted ring to expand beneath theshoulders of the container. A lip surrounds the top of the dispenser tolimit the extent to which the valve assembly can be inserted into thecontainer. The valve unit is then retained within the neck of thecontainer and the container contents, when pressurized,

are forced through the dispenser body against the flaps aid in returningthe flaps to their original locations. The

stiffeners connect the flaps to the valve unit side walls, and are ofparticular importance when the viscosity of the materials that are to beextruded is such that the flaps alone are not strong enough to properlyclose over and compress the mouth of the container.

Additional objects and features of the invention will become'apparentfrom the following detailed description and drawings, disclosing what ispresently contemplated as being the best modes of the invention.

THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front view of the neck of a deformablecontainer with a valve unit, shown partially in dotted lines positionedtherein;

FIG. 2, a top view of afour flap embodiment of the dispenser with thelower flaps shown in dotted lines;

FIG. 3, a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2, with openpositions of the flaps being shown in phantom;

FIG. 4, a top view of a single flap embodiment of the valve unit showinga flap stiffener in phantom lines; and

FIG. 5, a sectional view, taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4, and with theopen position of the flap being shown in phantom.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to the drawings:

In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 1, a valve unit is positionedwithin the neck of a deformable container 11. The valve unit consists ofa tubular body 12 having a flared locking ring 13 on a lower end. Flaps14a, 14b, 14c and 14d project inwardly at the other end of body 12. Atleast one slot is provided through locking ring 13, and into the body12, which is somewhat resilient. The slot allows the locking ring 13 tobe compressed, thereby temporarily reducing its diameter, so that it canbe inserted into the neck 11a of the deformable container 11. Thedispenser body 12 is then-pushed into the neck until the locking ring 13reaches a shoulder 11b formed between the container body 11c and thecontainer neck 11a. The locking ring 13 expands, thereby enlarging itsdiameter to be greater than the diameter of the neck 11a, when it movesbeneath the shoulder 11b. The expanded locking ring 13 then preventswithdrawal of the valve unit through the container neck.

A lip 16, having a greater diameter than the inner diameter of neck 11a,but less than the outer diameter of the neck engages the top of thedispenser 10 and 12 may provide additional force tending to return theflaps to their normal'position. As the material from within thecontainer forces flaps 14a, 14b, 14c and 14d open, it is extrudedthrough the opening formed between the flaps. In this embodiment, upperflaps 14a and 14b, are each semi-circular and the lower flaps 14c and14d each have a semi-circular central portion reversely curved outwardto the ends so the central passage formed by the opening back of theflaps is that of a four pointed star. By modifying the edgeconfigurations of the flaps the shape, of the passage through whichmaterials from the container are extruded can be keeps the valve unit 10from moving entirely into the valve unit, except the ring 13 which doesnot extend beyond the outer circumference of the neck of the container,is within neck 11a, a lid (not shown) may be installed on the containerneckwithout interference from the dispenser.

In operation, material from within the container is forced past lockingring 13, through the body 12 and against flaps 14a, 14b, 14c and 14d.The flaps are made of a flexible material which can be deformed butthatwill return to its original shape, and preferably are formed integrallywith the body 12, locking ring 13 and lip 16. The flaps are deformedoutwardly .of the neck by the material being forced from the container11 and are returned to a normal position closing the opening through theneck by their own resiliency when the force is removed. Stiffeners 17which comprise elastic webs joining the individual flaps and the wall ofbody varied. Stiffeners 17 may also leave impressions in the extrudedmaterial in the form of continuous notches between the points of thestar.

Flaps 14a and 14b are positioned opposite one another and overlie flaps14c and 14d which are also positioned opposite to one another. The lineof separation between flaps 14a and 14b extends perpendicular to theline of separation of between flaps 14c and 14d. So arranged, thepressurized container material forces flaps 14c and 14d open and as theyopen they push flaps 14a and 14b open. When the pressure on thecontainer and the material therein is discontinued, the naturalresiliency of the flaps and stiffeners 17 tends to close the flaps. Asthe flaps close, the edges of the lower flaps 14c and 14d which becauseof the configuration of the flaps remain in fullengagement with theupper flaps, scrape any accumulated material from the bottoms of theupper flaps 14a and 14b. -This keeps dispensed material from beingtrapped between the upper and lower flaps. The closing action of theflaps compresses material trapped in the central passage back into thetube and the leading edges of the flaps shear through any residualmaterials left in the passage.

Another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. As shown,a valve unit 20 having a single, large, movable flap 21 is adapted to bepositioned in a collapsible container of the type shown at 11 in FIG. 1.The body and locking ring are the same as described in connection withFIGS. 1-3 and will not again be described in detail. The single flap 21has a single stiffener 23, corresponding to the stiffeners 17 previouslydescribed, and a lip 24 along its outer cir-' cumference which fitswithin a groove 25 in the open edge of the moon shaped, resilient end 26of the dispenser body. v

In operation, materials within the container 22 are forced against flap21 to force the flap open. The opening thereby created is generallysemi-circular. When there is no pressure forcing the material from thecontainer the natural resiliency of flap 21 and stiffener 23 closes theflap to compress any remaining material at the outlet of the neck of thecontainer back into the container and to force residue material awayfrom the opening. The flap then comes to rest with lip 24 positioned ingroove 25.

Although preferred forms of my invention have been herein disclosed, itis to be understood that the present disclosure is by way of example andthat variations are possible without departing from the subject mattercoming within the scope of the following claims, which subject matter Iregard as my invention.

We claim:

1. A dispenser comprising a collapsible container having a neck throughwhich material contained within the container is dispensed;

a valve unit having a plurality of resilient flaps 4 pivotally connectedat a location inside the neck and biased to normally close the passagethrough the neck and arrange to open when sufficient pressure is exertedfrom the inside of the container against the flap, one of said flapsbeing arranged to scrape against the bottom of at least one other saidflap; and

resilient stiffener means fixed to and extending essentially normal toeach said flap and fixed with respect to the inner wall whereby saidstiffener means assists the flap in returning to its normally closedposition, whereby said flap closes the passage through the neck when thepressure exerted against the said inside of the container is removed.

2. A dispenser comprising a collapsible container having a neck throughwhich material in the container is dispensed; and

a valve unit having four hinged resilient flaps each pivotally connectedat a location inside the neck, one pair of flaps overlying the otherpair of said flaps and with the lines of separation of the overlyingflaps being normal to the lines of separation of the fiaps beneath,whereby the edges of said lower flaps scrape the bottom faces of theupper flaps during opening and closing of the flaps, said flaps beingbiased to normally close the passage through the neck and arranged toopen when sufficient pressure is exerted from inside the container,thereby exposing a passage through which materials are extruded from thecontainer, said flaps closing the passage when insufficient openingpressure is exerted thereon from inside the container.

3. A dispenser comprising a collapsible container having a neck throughwhich material in the container is dispensed;

a valve unit having four hinged resilient flapseach pivotally connectedat a location inside the neck, one pair of flaps overlying the otherpair of said flaps and with the lines of separation of the overlyingflaps being normal to the lines of separation of means for securing thevalve unit within the container neck, said means comprising with thecontainer below the neck; and a hp extending outwardly from the bodyaround the other end thereof, said lip having an outside diametergreater than the inside diameter of the neck and less than the outsidediameter of the neck, the distance between the ring and the lip beingjust slightly greater than the overall length of the neck.

4. A dispenser as in claim 2, wherein the upper flaps are each ofsemi-circular configuration, and the lower flaps have centralsemi-circular portion and reversely curved whereby material extrudedthrough them has a generally four sided, star-like, cross-sectionalconfiguration.

5. A dispenser as in claim 2, further including resilient stiffenermeans connected to each flap and fixed with respect to the inner wall ofthe neck, whereby said stiffeners assist the flaps in returning to theirnormally closed position.

6. A dispenser as in claim 3, wherein the flaps are each ofsemi-circular configuration, whereby material extruded through them hasa generally four sided starlike cross-sectional configuration.

7. A dispenser as in claim 6, further including resilient stiffenermeans connected to each flap and fixed with respect to the inner wall ofthe neck, whereby said stiffeners assist the flaps in returning to theirnormally closed position.

8. A valve unit comprising a generally tubular body formed of resilientmaterial;

a lip radiating outwardly at a top end of body member;

a resilient locking ring radiating out from the body at a bottom endthereof, said locking ring being deformable to have an outer diameternot exceeding the outer diameter of the generally tubular body member,whereby said body member and said ring are adapted to be telescopedthrough the neck of a container;

a valve in a body member at the top end thereof, said valve comprising aplurality of resilient flaps, some of said flaps normally overlying someothers of said flaps when said flaps close the passage through the valvemember and all of said flaps being operable by pressure applicationthrough the body member.

from the bottom end thereof to open, and the bottom faces of theoverlying flaps being scraped by the edges of the underlying flapsduring opening and closing of the said flaps.

1. A dispenser comprising a collapsible container having a neck throughwhich material contained within the container is dispensed; a valve unithaving a plurality of resilient flaps pivotally connected at a locationinside the neck and biased to normally close the passage through theneck and arrange to open when sufficient pressure is exerted from theinside of the container against the flap, one of said flaps beingarranged to scrape against the bottom of at least one other said flap;and resilient stiffener means fixed to and extending essentially normalto each said flap and fixed with respect to the inner wall whereby saidstiffener means assists the flap in returning to its normally closedposition, whereby said flap closes the passage through the neck when thepressure exerted against the said inside of the container is removed. 2.A dispenser comprising a collapsible container having a neck throughwhich material in the container is dispensed; and a valve unit havingfour hinged resilient flaps each pivotally connected at a locationinside the neck, one pair of flaps overlying the other pair of saidflaps and with the lines of separation of the overlying flaps beingnormal to the lines of separation of the flaps beneath, whereby theedges of said lower flaps scrape the bottom faces of the upper flapsduring opening and closing of the flaps, said flaps being biased tonormally close the passage through the neck and arranged to open whensufficient pressure is exerted from inside the container, therebyexposing a passage through which materials are extruded from thecontainer, said flaps closing the passage when insufficient openingpressure is exerted thereon from inside the container.
 3. A dispensercomprising a collapsible container having a neck through which materialin the container is dispensed; a valve unit having four hinged resilientflaps each pivotally connected at a location inside the neck, one pairof flaps overlying the other pair of said flaps and with the lines ofseparation of the overlying flaps being normal to the lines ofseparation of the flaps beneath, whereby the edges of said lower flapsscrape the bottom faces of the upper flaps during opening and closing ofthe flaps, said flaps being biased to normally close the passage throughthe neck and arrange to open when sufficient pressure is exerted frominside the container, thereby exposing a passage through which materialsare extruded from the container, said flaps closing the passage wheninsufficient opening pressure is exerted thereon from inside thecontainer; means for securing the valve unit within the container neck,said means comprising a tubular body forming part of the valve unit, aresilient locking ring at one end of the body, said ring beingdeformable to have an outside diameter smaller than the inside diameterof the neck, having slots therein to facilitate such deformation andsnapping of the body into the neck and being normally expandable intoengagement with the container below the neck; and a lip extendingoutwardly from the body around the other end thereof, said lip having anoutside diameter greater than the inside diameter of the neck and lessthan the outside diameter of the neck, the distance between the ring andthe lip being just slightly greater than the overall length of the neck.4. A dispenser as in claim 2, wherein the upper flaps are each ofsemi-circular configuration, and the lower flaps have centralsemi-circular portion and reversely curved whereby material extrudedthrough them has a generally four sided, star-like, cross-sectionalconfiguration.
 5. A dispenser as in claim 2, further including resilientstiffener means connected to each flap and fixed with respect to theinner wall of the neck, whereby said stiffeners assist the flaps inreturning to their normally closed position.
 6. A dispenser as in claim3, wherein the flaps are each of semi-circular configuration, wherebymaterial extruded through them has a generally four sided star-likecross-sectional configuration.
 7. A dispenser as in claim 6, furtherincluding resilient stiffener means connected to each flap and fixedwith respect to the inner wall of the neck, whereby said stiffenersassist the flaps in returning to their normally closed position.
 8. Avalve unit comprising a generally tubular body formed of resilientmaterial; a lip radiating outwardly at a top end of body member; aresilient locking ring radiating out from the body at a bottom endthereof, said locking ring being deformable to have an outer diameternot exceeding the outer diameter of the generally tubular body member,whereby said body member and said ring are adapted to be telescopedthrough the neck of a container; a valve in a body member at the top endthereof, said valve compRising a plurality of resilient flaps, some ofsaid flaps normally overlying some others of said flaps when said flapsclose the passage through the valve member and all of said flaps beingoperable by pressure application through the body member from the bottomend thereof to open, and the bottom faces of the overlying flaps beingscraped by the edges of the underlying flaps during opening and closingof the said flaps.